Objective Through the measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of different ages, and the structural analysis of the SHR aortic media cross-sectional area (MCSA) during the same period, to reveal the vascular physiological changes in different growth stages of SHR.
Method PWV measurement and MCSA analysis were performed on SHR of 4 months, 6 months, 8 months, 10 months, and 12 months using color Doppler ultrasound and blood vessel pathology analysis.
Results With age, the PWV of SHR began to increase. The PWV of 12-month-old SHR was significantly higher than that of 8-month-old, 6-month-old and 4-month-old rats (P<0.05). The PWV of 10-month-old SHR was significantly higher than that of 6-month-old and 4-month-old rats (P<0.05). MCSA analysis showed that with increasing age, SHR aortic MCSA also showed a gradual upward trend.
Conclusion With the increase of age, SHR arterial compliance becomes worse, the vascular elastic function decreases, and the degree of arteriosclerosis increases.